Former Minister of Uttar Pradesh and a prominent figure in Purvanchal, Amarmani Tripathi, along with his wife Madhumani, was released from jail on Friday. Following the Governor’s approval the duo, who have been in jail for 16 years, were given an early release under Article 161 of the Constitution. Tripathi, who was serving a sentence for the murder of Madhumita Shukla, was granted an early release due to good behaviour. Shukla, a poet from Lakhimpur, was murdered in 2003, and Tripathi and Madhumani were implicated. However, they were released on Friday, in part due to the state’s 2018 remission policy. Shukla’s sister, Nidhi, has meanwhile opposed Tripathi’s release, expressing concerns about her family’s safety.
Upon his release, Amarmani’s son and former legislator Amanmani Tripathi referred to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as his guardian and mentor. Amanmani’s statement has significant political implications. Political circles have also heated up due to discussions around the release. Pundits are analysing the impact of this release on caste dynamics in the state.
Tripathi’s re-entry into the political scene is seen as a turning point in regional politics, especially with the recent passing of former minister Pandit Harishankar Tiwari. Amarmani has had affiliations with various political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
